How do we prepare Australian airports for the future?

Intensifying urban encroachment, changes in aviation security requirements and the implementation of new technologies to enable a more seamless passenger journey: Modern airports are facing many challenges in their pursuit to operate their facilities efficiently and cost-effectively.

Australian airports play a crucial role in ensuring the nation’s mobility and supporting regional economic growth. Increasing passenger numbers in both the business and leisure sector are underpinning the need for further airport development.  Across the country, aerodromes, large and small, are busy building new runways, upgrading air side and land side facilities or even constructing entire additional terminals and access roads. The big balancing act is to manage the development processes and engage with concerns from the community whilst ensuring smooth everyday operations at the airport.

Building lasting relationships with airlines is a key factor in enabling sustainable development and growing aeronautical revenue. Forming a route development strategy and a persuasive marketing campaign will foster airport-airline affiliation long into the future.

At the same time, the importance of non-aeronautical revenue through car parking, retail as well as landside and airside business development is ever increasing. How can airports make the most of their assets and boost their revenue sources?

The 2nd annual Aviation Business Airport Operations 2012 conference will take a closer look at the business relationships and technologies that enable long-lasting growth. Hosted at the conference facilities at Canberra Airport’s Brindabella Business Park, delegates will be able to join Canberra Airport representatives for an exclusive tour of the existing facilities and the new terminal currently under construction.

Implementing change at the Port of Brisbane

The last few years have been eventful for the Port of Brisbane. The state government sold the infrastructure asset in 2010. The new ownership meant adjusting to new governance arrangements and the implementation of a transition program. At the same time the port had to deal with extreme climatic events. Peter Keyte, General Manager Port Services at the Port of Brisbane, spoke at the 14^th annual QLD Transport Summit 2011 about the challenging period. You can view the presentation now on the Informa Conferences website.

The 15^th annual Lloyd’s List Australia Queensland Transport Summit 2012 will again feature a presentation by the Port of Brisbane. Priscilla Radice, Manager Strategic Projects will focus on the ports strategic direction for growth. Her conference presentation will focus on key land uses and trade projections as well as supporting a large deepwater island port through provision of dedicated landside access capacity.

To view the full conference agenda, visit the QLD Transport 2012 website.

AGIC Interview: Setting new standards in infrastructure sustainability

The Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) has recently launched its sustainability rating tool. I had the chance to speak to Rick Walters, AGIC’s Technical Director about the complexity of whole-of –lifecycle sustainability in infrastructure assets and the issues the industry is facing when it comes to implementing new sustainability standards.

Rick Walters will be joining the speaker panel at the 2nd annual ARA Sustainability in Transport conference, held on the 27th – 28th June 2012 in Melbourne. Visit the event website for more information and to view the program.

Understanding the real costs to daily car trips

Australian cities are confronted with worsening traffic congestion – a trend that has significant negative economic effects. A recent Sydney study by Booz and CO has found that bus congestion between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the City alone is costing the state and commuters $13 million a year in lost revenue and wasted time.

Dr. John Rose, Professor at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney spoke at the 2^nd annual Urban Congestion conference about a potential pathway to introducing congestion pricing in Australia. Prior to his presentation, he spoke to the ABC about coming up with a better way to charge drivers for their car trips.

What are your thoughts on Professor Rose’s proposal? Are Australian’s undervaluing the costs of their daily car trips? If you want to learn more about the true costs of traffic congestion, take a look at Phil Potterton’s presentation about the costs and benefits of congestion charging. Mr. Potterton is an Executive Consultant with GHD and previously was the the Executive Director of the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics where he directed projects in infrastructure appraisal, demand trends, pricing and regulation.

Australia leading the World in Aviation Security

The 7th annual Asia Pacific AVSEC 2012 continued its tradition of attracting key players and decision makers from the aviation security sector both nationally and internationally. The event provided a unique and relaxed networking platform that offered speakers and delegates the opportunity to engage in a thorough debate about aviation security today and in the future.

Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, His Excellency Bill Paterson PSM reminded the audience that “the aviation industry – and not simply aircraft – will remain a target of terrorist choice, because of its potential for mass casualty impact, its visibility, geographic spread, many infrastructural and personnel points of vulnerability, its critical economic importance and its highly variable standards, facilities, commitment and capabilities across national boundaries.”

Paul Retter AM, Executive Director at Office of Transport Security, Department of Infrastructure and Transport touched on a new approach to closed charter security and invited the aviation industry to provide feedback on a new airport front-of-house policy package.

Retter revealed that …